Sorry to my readers and followers for my lack of blogging this week … The old plumber/poet traded his quill in for his old rusty spanner and dirty hammer …
Drawing Above: done for me by Rose in 2017 – https://poetrummager.org/
Back On The Tools. (adapted from “An Old-time Plumber”)
I’ll be seventy-five in July
Could I actually do the task?
Am I physically strong enough?
Am I mentally sharp and able enough
To endure four to five days of hard work?
Surprise, surprise – I have survived the first three days.
The job is nearing completion, and the client is suitably pleased,
And I am home beside the fan, enjoying a cold glass of beer.
Although when I finished, it was nearly dinner time,
And my back was stiff as red-gum bark –
But a job stamped by my old-time quality trademark.
Before I can wrap up the job and rest on the weekend,
I’m waiting for a made-to-order cover panel
Which, unfortunately, will conceal all of my handiwork.
Ivor Steven © February 2026
Ivor.Plumber/Poet 
Very impressive Ivor.
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And I’m very worn out and tired, being an old poet is a lot easier than being an old plumber 🥰🌏
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That looked like a heck of a job!
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It was mission impossible, like trying to get a square peg into a round hole, these concealed cisterns are in new houses before the plaster goes on , and the old cistern was 45 years old … so nothing was same … yes it was tough task, there were lots of hidden obstacles … anyhow, the job is nearly done ✅ 🌏😄
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So lucky you can do this yourself, Ivor. I have the plumber coming tomorrow. $$$$!!
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My old client is a lucky man … most plumbers would have told him “no way “, and ripped everything out and installed a complete new toilet suite… the wall would then need replastering and painting … 😊😄
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And it looks to me like Frankie is absolutely certain of your abilities- as he doesn’t look interested in supervising the job at all! hehehe
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He was my metaphor for how worn out and tired I felt 🐶🥰🌏😄
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Big job. Happy it’s almost over.
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Too big of a job for this old explumber … in future I’ll stick to being an old poet 🥰🌏📘📖
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Good for you, Ivor. You still got it!!
I had a similar experience a few weeks ago. I had a discolored ring in the vinyl around the commode. Decided to replace the wax ring. Then decided I needed to put down new vinyl as well. All went well until the push on water outlet began to drip. Went to the hardware store and bought a Sharkbite water line outlet. Cut off the old one and pushed this one on and it sealed nicely! Amazing!
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Yeah, those ‘sharkbite’ fittings are really amazing, Dwight … but there was no easy way for me, the job was almost ‘mission impossible’ 😄😊
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Bravo! That kind of physical labor is no joke! Great job, dear Ivor. You really deserved that cold beer! Frankie’s looking quite chill! 😂
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Definitely no joke at my age, with a body that doesn’t work properly anymore … thank you for your kind thoughts my friend 🥰📖🌏
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